Although it has been proposed that plant lectins play a number of roles, the function of these proteins in normal plant growth and development has been unclear. To analyze the functions of putative alfalfa lectin genes, lines of transgenic alfalfa plants expressing approximately half of the open reading frame of MsLEC1 or MsLEC2, in the antisense or sense orientation, were established and analy...

The alfalfa weevil, Hypera postica (Gyllenhal), is a serious, yet sporadic defoliator of alfalfa, Medicago sativa L., in Nebraska. A 2-yr study was conducted in 2005 and 2006 to test for variation in degree-day requirements by location in eastern Nebraska. Sampling took place along a latitudinal gradient in three regions of eastern Nebraska. Three fields were sampled in each region during the 2...

Birdsfoot trefoil is a high-quality forage recommended for irrigated perennial pastures, either in mixtures with grasses or in pure stands. In this bulletin we report on the forage nutritive value of pure stands of birdsfoot trefoil harvested at 6week intervals, and compare it to alfalfa harvested at the same intervals. We found that the digestibility of the two forages was similar, but that al...

Integrated pest management in alfalfa continues to be challenged by changes in the pests, alfalfa production system, environmental conditions, and other undetermined factors. Many of the underlying principles of integrated pest management (IPM) were developed from research conducted in the alfalfa system in the 1960-80’s. However, as indicated by challenges in controlling alfalfa weevil larvae ...

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is one of the most relevant forage crops due to its importance for livestock. Timely harvesting critical secure adequate quality. However, farmers face challenges not only decide optimal time but predict optimum levels both production and Fortunately, remote sensing technologies can significantly contribute obtaining quality insights, providing scalability, supporti...

Transgenic alfalfa over-expressing a nodule-enhanced malate dehydrogenase (neMDH) cDNA and untransformed alfalfa plants were grown at the same field site and rhizosphere soils collected after 53 weeks of plant growth. These alfalfa lines differ in the amount and composition of root organic acids produced and exuded into the rhizosphere. Nucleotide sequencing of PCR-based 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA...

Alfalfa is one of the most important legume forage crops in the world. In spite of its agronomic and nutritive advantages, alfalfa has some limitations in the usage of pasture forage and hay supplement. High rapid degradation of protein in alfalfa poses a risk of rumen bloat to ruminants which could cause huge economic losses for farmers. Coupled with the relatively high lignin content, which i...

Alfalfa was harvested as silage or hay and fed in two 12-wk trials with a 4 x 4 Latin square design that used 12 (trial 1) or 24 (trial 2) multiparous lactating cows (4 ruminally cannulated cows per trial). Diets contained (dry matter basis) 75 or 50% alfalfa plus 24 of 40% high moisture corn (trial 1) or 50% alfalfa, 44 or 41% high moisture corn, with (3%) or without fish meal (trial 2). Exper...

Research in the genetic engineering of alfalfa is currently underway to improve alfalfa for traits such as tolerance to abiotic and biotic stresses, forage quality, and herbicide resistance. Alfalfa is also being engineered to produce novel compounds for industrial and diagnostic purposes. This research will likely lead to the production of improved cultivars, as well as new uses for alfalfa.

The potato leafhopper (PLH) is the most serious insect pest of alfalfa in Wisconsin and the Upper Midwest. PLH injury to alfalfa can result in leaf yellowing (“hopperburn”), plant stunting, loss of yield and forage quality, and reduced alfalfa stand persistence. Leafhopper populations are a perennial problem in new alfalfa seedings, and they frequently increase to damaging levels on the second ...